Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

By Benjamin Franklin

Page 39

flattering things of me to my father, andstrongly recommending the project of my setting up at Philadelphia asa thing that must make my fortune. We struck on a shoal in going downthe bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea, and wereoblig'd to pump almost continually, at which I took my turn. Wearriv'd safe, however, at Boston in about a fortnight. I had beenabsent seven months, and my friends had heard nothing of me; for mybr. Holmes was not yet return'd, and had not written about me. Myunexpected appearance surpris'd the family; all were, however, veryglad to see me, and made me welcome, except my brother. I went to seehim at his printing-house. I was better dress'd than ever while in hisservice, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and mypockets lin'd with near five pounds sterling in silver. He receiv'd menot very frankly, look'd me all over, and turn'd to his work again.

[Illustration: The journeymen were inquisitive]

The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort of acountry it was, and how I lik'd it. I prais'd it much, and the happylife I led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it;and, one of them asking what kind of money we had there, I produc'd ahandful of silver, and spread it before them, which was a kind ofraree-show[32] they had not been us'd to, paper being the money ofBoston.[33] Then I took an opportunity of letting them see my watch;and, lastly (my brother still grum and sullen), I gave them a pieceof eight[34] to drink, and took my leave. This visit of mine offendedhim extreamly; for, when my mother some time after spoke to him of areconciliation, and of her wishes to see us on good terms together,and that we might live for the future as brothers, he said I hadinsulted him in such a manner before his people that he could neverforget or forgive it. In this, however, he was mistaken.

[32] A peep-show in a box.

[33] There were no mints in the colonies, so the metal money was of foreign coinage and not nearly so common as paper money, which was printed in large quantities in America, even in small denominations.

Text Comparison with Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Distinguished as
a statesman, he was equally great as a philosopher, thus uniting in
himself a rare degree of excellence in both these pursuits, to excel
in either of which is deemed the highest praise.

My proposal was to build a
wharf there fit for us to stand upon, and I showed my comrades a large
heap of stones, which were intended for a new house near the marsh,
and which would very well suit our purpose.

At his house I lay that night, and the next morning reach'd
Burlington, but had the mortification to find that the regular boats
were gone a little before my coming, and no other expected to go
before Tuesday, this being Saturday; wherefore I returned to an old
woman in the town, of whom I had bought gingerbread to eat on the
water, and ask'd her advice.

He left me a small legacy in a nuncupative
will, as a token of his kindness for me, and he left me once more to
the wide world; for the store was taken into the care of his
executors, and my employment under him ended.

These things I mention as a caution to young printers,
and that they may be encouraged not to pollute their presses and
disgrace their profession by such infamous practices, but refuse
steadily, as they may see by my example that such a course of conduct
will not, on the whole, be injurious to their interests.

I had observ'd that
the streets, when dry, were never swept, and the light dust carried
away; but it was suffer'd to accumulate till wet weather reduc'd it to
mud, and then, after lying some days so deep on the pavement that
there was no crossing but in paths kept clean by poor people with
brooms, it was with great labour rak'd together and thrown up into
carts open above, the sides of which suffered some of the slush at
every jolt on the pavement to shake out and fall, sometimes to the
annoyance of foot-passengers.